MARGAO: The Goyche Fudle Pidge Khatir (GFPK) group has filed a 14-point objection to the Goa Land Revenue (Conversion of use of land and non-agricultural assessment) (Amendment) Rules, 2022, wherein they have demanded that the draft rules be dropped and no notification be issued in the future that would make the proposed changes in the law. GFKP further pointed out that for any conversion of use of land and non-agricultural assessment, the collector’s office refers the file to a minimum of four different departments, a process that is time-consuming.
All these multiple processes in multiple departments requiring records, references and ground inspection involving the concerned party, is obviously too extensive in nature and will go beyond the 20 days’ time limit, considering that there are no dedicated officers/staff for the said works,” GFPK added.
“Within 20 days, mass conversion of use of land and non-agricultural assessment will be done in an uncontrolled manner, through the single office of the Collector,” said GFPK President Jack Mascarenhas. “The power concentration can actually get misused by the concerned parties or departments by adopting the delay to the advantage of the project proponent and disadvantage of the environment and its people-centric notified land use plan under the 73rd and 74th constitutional powers in the 11th and 12th schedule of the constitution,” Mascarenhas added further.
GFPK reiterated that the proposed process for agricultural land conversions is a multi-disciplinary task impacting growth, planning, land use, environmental impacts, etc and therefore concentration of powers without the competencies and expertise is highly undemocratic and will cause irreversible damage to the State.
“Besides, the concentrating of powers related to land use with the Collector’s office, which is more concerned with the revenue issues rather than planning and other environmental issues, does not promote sustainable growth of the cities and regions under their jurisdiction,” GFPK added.
